Electrically actuated bell ringer



April 26, 1955 F. A. KASPROWICZ ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED BELL RINGER a Sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1952 FrankA/(aspro vv/cz INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED BELL RINGER Frank A. Kasprowicz, Brenham, Tex.

Application March 22, 1952, Serial No. 278,018

3 Claims. (Cl. 340--398) This invention relates to an improved bell ringer control for operating a striker at predetermined time intervals and in any of several selected sequences.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrically actuated bell ringer whose action is controlled by circuit closing switches arranged to operate according to predetermined patterns for tolling or stroking in interval combinations of recognized signals.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification is considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevation, part in section of a clapper type bell and the motor driven hammer for striking the bell.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, part in section, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, part in section, taken along line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the various electrical circuits, and operative parts common thereto, comprising this invention.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, part in section, showing the hammer mechanism in stopped position.

Fig. 6 is an elevation, part in section, showing the hammer mechanism at the beginning of the hammer stroke.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an adjustable camming device indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of a time clock, indicating the wiring required to ring the bell to indicate the hours of the day.

Over the years the well known clapper type bells, as the bell shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, have been installed in church and school belfries, as the belfry 2, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Such bells usually have the body 2 having, as a part thereof, a head 3 to which the cross-bar 4 is connected; such bar having the weight 5 on one end and the rope 6 connected to the other end to extend downwardly preferably through the guide sleeve 7 and belfry floor 8.

When such rope is pulled, as by a sexton or other operator standing some distance below the belfry, as on the floor of the church, the bell trunnions 9 pivot in the support bearings 10, and the bell pivots to and fro about the axis of its trunnions. Thus the clapper 11, which is pivotally mounted on the rod 12 extending across and within the upper portion of the bell body, is caused to pivot about the rod 12 when the rope is pulled, and the clapper head 14 alternately strikes the inside of the bell at the impact points 15 and 15' disposed on opposite sides of the bell body 2'. This alternate striking of these impact points by the clapper head 14 accomplishes the effect described as the tolling of the bell.

In order to eliminate the necessity for manually pulling upon the rope 6 to toll the bell, this invention provides a method and structure for ringing or tolling the bell automatically, as desired. A frame 16 is mounted on the belfry floor 8. Such frame can include the angles 18 to support the pin 19, which has journalled thereon the end 23 of the bars 20. Such bars have the anchor pin 21 in spaced relation with the journaled end 23, and also have the hammer pin 22 in the other end thereof to support the roller or hammer 24.

A motor-speed reducer unit 25 is mounted upon, or adjacent the frame 16, and the shaft 26 of the speedreducer 27 may have press-fitted thereon the radial arm 28 of the crank 30. The axial arm or pin 29 of this crank has pivotally fitted thereon one end of the connec- 2,707,276 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 tion member 31. One end of the spring 32 is pivotally connected to the other end of the connection member while the other end of the spring 32 is pivotally connected to the anchor pin 21 of the hammer assembly 35.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, with the direction of rotation counter-clockwise as indicated, when the spring is under minimum tension the axis of the shaft 26 and the axis of the axial arm 29 of the crank 30 are in the same plane with the axis of the anchor pin 21 and the hammer 24 rests in lowest position.

Then, as rotation continues from this position, the spring 32 first stretches without raising the hammer, as shown in Fig. 6, in which the crank has rotated from the dead-center position of Fig. 5, through the arc indicated. Upon further rotation the stretched spring begins to lift the hammer, until, as shown in Fig. 1, it strikes the bell at the point of impact 15 with the result that a sound is emitted corresponding to the tones of the tolling of the bell.

In this regard it is pointed out that, in cases of heavy bells, such impact may not cause any rotation of the bell about the trunnion axes, but to insure against such rotation some means as the prop 33 indicated in Fig. 1 may be installed beneath the cross-bar 4.

Under certain operation to be described hereinbelow it is desired to stop the motor 44 upon each revolution of the shaft 26, and it is also desirable that the hammer assembly 35 should occupy the position of Fig. 5 when the motor is stopped. To insure this a device such as that shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, and described hereinbelow, is provided.

A cam 34 is connected to the shaft 26 to rotate therewith. A positive line 36 from a source of electrical power is connected to one side 37 of a switch 40 preferably mounted on the speed-reducer 27 adjacent the cam 34. Another positive line 38 is connected to the other side 39 of the switch 40, such other side comprising a spring 47 connected at one end preferably to the speed reducer and at the other end sliding upon the surface of the cam 34. When sliding upon the cylindrical surface of this cam the points 41, 41 of the switch sides 37, 39, respectively, are in contact to close the circuit between the positive lines 36, 38.

Thus when the positive side of an electrical circuit is completed through the line 38, and by way of the line 43, to the motor 44, while the positive line 51 is interrupted, and with the negative side 46 of the circuit completed to the motor 44, it can be seen that, upon every revolution of the shaft 26, the downwardly sprung spring 47 will drop into the cam slot 48 of the cam 34, thereby breaking contact between the points 41, 41' and stopping the motor 44. As the cam 34 and its slot 48 can be orientated on the shaft 26 and then fixed thereon, it can be seen that the orientation can be such, with regard to the hammer assembly 35, that with the motor stopped, g1}? agssembly can rest in the desired position shown in If it is desired to ring the bell continuously with one impact per revolution of the shaft 26, and without stopping the motor, as, for instance, in case of a fire or to give some other general alarm, with the other switches open, the switch 49 may be closed to complete the positive circuit through the line 55, 50, 51, 43 to the motor 44. Then, with the master switch 52 closed to complete the negative line 53, 46 to the motor 44, the circuit to the motor is continuously closed regardless of the breaking of contact between the points 41, 41' upon each revolution of the shaft 26.

Under such conditions the hammer assembly 35 occupies successively the positions shown in Figs. 6, 2, and 5 during each revolution, and makes one impact upon the bell per revolution.

If it is desired to ring the bell continuously, but at intervals spaced substantially further apart in point of time than the time required for one revolution of the shaft 26, with the other switches open, the switch 54 is closed to complete the positive line 55, 56 to the motor 57, while the negative line 58, 59, 53, is completed by closing the master switch 52.

The motor 57 thus revolves, and with it the cam 60 on the shaft thereof, so that upon each revolution of the cam 60, the normally open switch 61 is closed when the arm 62 thereof drops into the cam slot 63. This closes contact between the points 64, to complete the positive line 51, 43 to drive the motor 44 the length of time the arm 62 is in the cam slot 63, which length of time is correlated to correspond with the time required for one revolution of the shaft 26. Thus, the motor 44 operates, and drives the hammer assembly 35 to strike the bell one impact per revolution of the cam 60, and the motor operates only during that portion of time represented by the length of the cam slot 63 as compared with the circumference of the cam 60.

A time clock 66 is provided with the negative connection thereto completed through the line 53, 59, 67 when the master switch 52 is closed. Normally, the positive connection to the clock is completed through the line 68, 69, 55.

The clock may have a plurality of stationary points, as the point 70, spaced around the face thereof, to correspond to various times at which it may be desired to ring the bell. The line 71, connecting at one end with the junction of the lines 68 and 69, connects at the other end with one of the hands of the clock, usually the hour hand 72, which closes the circuit between the hand and the point 70 when it moves thereagainst.

The point 70 is connected through the positive line 73 to the relay 74 which has its negative side completed through the line 75, 59, 53, when the master switch 52 is closed. When the circuit through the relay is closed by the contact between the point 70 and hand 72, the energized relay draws the switch 76 to the left, as shown in Fig. 4, to make contact with the line 77. This line 77 connects, in turn, with the normally open switch 78, and through the line 79 with the positive side of the motor 80, the negative line to the motor 80 being completed through the line 81, 59, 53, when the master switch 52 is closed.

The rotation of the motor 80 brings the arm 82 of the switch 78 in a position to drop within the cam slot 91 of the cam 95 to break the contact 83, 84, of the switch to stop the motor 80. The motor then remains stopped until the hand 72 moves away from the point 70 to deenergize the relay 74, thereby permitting the switch 76 to close contact with line 86. This completes the positive side of the circuit to the motor 80 through the points 84, 85 and starts the motor temporarily until the cam slot 91 is rotated from beneath the switch arm 82. This opens the contacts 84, 85, while setting up the contact between the points 83, 84, until the next point on the time clock 66 is contacted by the hand 72.

In order to provide for the sounding of sequential and variously spaced apart series of hell impacts the cam structure shown in Fig. 7 is provided. The shaft 87, which is driven by the motor 80, has mounted thereon both the cam and the cam assembly 100. The cam assembly can comprise, for instance, the cam plate 92, having the arcuate groove 93 therein, such plate being pivotally mounted on the shaft 87. Also fixed to the shaft 87 is the cam member 94 into which the bolt 96 is threaded to extend through the groove 93, so that the nut 103 may be tightened to bind the cam plate and cam member together at various degrees of relative overlap, to thereby vary the combined peripheral length of cam surface provided by these elements.

The interrupters 97, 98, 99, are also provided and pivotally mounted on the shaft 87, and bolts 101 may extend therefrom through the arcuate slot 102 in the cam 95 so that nuts, not shown, may be tightened to fix the positions of the interrupters in relation to each other and in relation to the other elements of the cam assembly.

The arm 103 is mounted to ride upon the cam surface 105 and upon the flanges 106, 107, 108 of the interrupters, and is sprung to normally extend into the radial open spaces between the interrupters and between the interrupters and the cam assembly.

When the arm 103 thus extends into these spaces the contacts 109, 110 are closed, thereby closing the positive circuit from the source of power 100 through the line 55, 70, 73, 77, 111, 51, to the positive side 43 of the motor 44. Thus the motor 44 runs while the arm 103 traverses the spaces, and makes revolutions corresponding with the relative rotational speed of the motor 80 and the motor 44, and the bell is impacted by the hammer assembly 35 a number of times proportionate to the relative peripheral lengths of the spaces between the interrupting surfaces.

During such times, the circuit through the switch 40 is also obviously closed when not interrupted by the cam 34, but such closure has no effect since power is supplied directly to the motor 44 through the positive line 43 and negative line 46.

It can thus be seen how the sequence of the tolling of the bell can be made to resemble the normal manual ringing of a belfry mounted clapper type bell, as by a sexton or other operator. The effect of realism achieved is accomplished, in part, by the variations of intervals whlch can be effected by the spacing of the interrupters 106, 107, 108, and the variations achievable in the peripheral length of the interrupting cam surface 105. The effect of realism is also accomplished in part, by the provision of a hammer 24 of calculated size and weight, and of a hammer assembly 35 of a calculated weight, length, and size, so that the effect created by the impact of the hammer 24 on a calculated point of impact in the bell, creates the sonic effect of the normal tolling of the bell by its clapper.

Should it be desired to toll the bell by means of the revolutions of the motor 80, so as to use the sequence set upon the cam structure 90, but without circuit closure between the hand 72 and a point 70, it is only necessary to manually close the switch 110 to complete the circuit through the line 111, 79 to the positive side of the motor 80. Thus, the motor 80 will run and run the motor 44 to sound the bell in accordance with the sequences established by the cam structure 90. The motor 80 will thus run, irrespective of the breaking of contact between the points 83, 84, or 84, 85, until the switch 110 is manually opened.

Also, should it be desired to ring the bell continuously by actuation from some station remote from the switch 49, with the switch 49 left open, the switch 112 can be closed to complete the positive connection through the line 55, 114, 115 to the relay 116; the negative connection thereto being completed through the line 53, 59, 117, when the master switch 52 is closed. Thus, with the relay 116 energized, the switch 118 is drawn to the left, as shown in Fig. 4 to complete the positive line 55, 119, 120, 50, 51, 43 to the motor 57. Thus with the master switch 52 closed to complete the negative line 53, 46, to the motor 44, the motor 44, will run, and the hammer will impact the bell continuously, as described hereinabove for conditions when the switch 49 may be closed.

Additionally it may be desired to actuate the motor 44 from some station remote from the switch 54 to ring the bell continuously but at intervals spaced substantially further apart in point of time than the time required for one revolution of the shaft 25. This can be accomplished with the switch 54 open, and with other conditions the same as described hereinabove with the switch 54 closed, and is achieved by closing the switch 121 to complete the positive line 55, 114, 122 to the relay 123; the negative line to the relay 123 being completed through the line 53, 59, 124, when the master switch 52 is closed.

The energized relay thus draws the switch 125 to the left to complete the positive line 55, 126, 127, 56, to the motor 57; the negative line thereto being completed through the line 53, 59, 58, as described hereinabove. Thus, with the circuits to the motor 44 closed through the positive line 43 and the negative line 46, the motor 57 limits the impacts of the hammer against the bell to one impact per revolution of the motor 57, as has been hereinabove set forth.

Visual indicia, as the lights 128, 120, 130, may be provided and connected by lines 131, 132, and 133, respectively, to the negative line 59, and by lines 134, 135, 136, respectively, to the positive lines 111, 50, and 56 Thus, the light 128 will indicate the operation of the system by control of the motor 80, either by means of the relay 74 and time clock 66, or by means of the closing of the switch 110. The light 129 will indicate the continuous ringing of the bell, either by means of the closing of the switch 117 and the operation of the relay 116, or by the closing of the switch 49. Also, the light 130 will indicate the operation of the motor 44 by means of the motor 57, either by means of closing the switch 121 and operation of the relay 123, or by the closing of the switch 54.

Although the words positive and negative have been used throughout to describe the lines to the various terminals, these terms can be interchanged without deterring from the import of this invention.

As regards the bell tones obtained, it is obvious that this invention includes, and can operate by an actuating means as a solenoid operated hammer, which does not move upwardly but back and forth in a substantially horizontal plane to strike the bell.

Additionally, whereas two separate motors 57 and 80 have been shown for purposes of clarity, it is possible to mount the cam structure 90 and the cam 60 in axially spaced relation on the shaft of the same motor, and with the connections of the motor eliminated employed on the motor retained, but suitably spaced from the connections shown for such retained motor, the same results can be had as hereinabove described.

Should it be desired to adapt the time clock 66 to toll the hours of the day on the hour, it is only necessary to provide contact points, as shown in Fig. 8, equal to the number of the hour to be designated, as eleven for eleven oclock, twelve for twelve oclock, et cetera, and connect these points in a parallel, with a line 56a leading from such parallel connection to the line 56 leading to the positive side of the motor 57. Then, with the length of each point contact correlated with the speed of the motor 57, the motor 57 will operate, as hereinabove described, to toll the bell at spaced apart time intervals a number of times equal to the numerical designation of the hour of the day to be indicated.

It should be noticed that with this arrangement for indicating the hours of the day provided, it will not be possible to designate any other occurrence at the same time, so that the points 70 to designate such other occurrences, will have to be spaced about the face of the clock from the points at the hourly designations.

Broadly this invention provides a method and structure for emitting sequences of sonic indications at predetermined intervals, and it particularly relates to a structure for ringing a bell of the clapper type from a remote station, and to the method of converting a belfry mounted clapper type bell to be actuated from such remote station.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrically actuated bell ringer, a clapper motor circuit, a pair of circuit control switches arranged in parallel in said circuit, motor driven cams to actuate said switches, one to operate one of said circuit control switches in regular interval pattern and another to operate the other of said circuit control switches in irregular interval pattern, a pair of parallel switches in series with each of the first mentioned switches, one switch of each pair being a manual switch and the other being a time responsive switch and cam driving motor circuits in series with the last mentioned switches and in parallel with the first mentioned switches.

2. A bell ringer as set out in claim 1 having a clapper motor driven cam controlled circuit operative to restore the clapper motor to clapper rest position following its operation under control of the first mentioned switches.

3. A bell ringer as set out in claim 1 together with a clapper actuating mechanism, including a motor driven delayed force applying means permitting the clapper to remain in rest position during a force build-up period and a clapper motor driven cam controlled circuit operative to place the clapper in rest position when the first mentioned switches open the circuit controlled thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,150 Leavitt May 27, 1884 1,150,235 Ward Aug. 17, 1915 1,268,656 Williford June 4, 1918 1,283,481 Dupont Nov. 5, 1918 1,304,912 Shaifroth May 27, 1919 1,340,059 La Munyon May 11, 1920 1,475,715 Oswald Nov. 27, 1923 1,686,408 Dietrich Oct. 2, 1928 1,733,175 Winnall Oct. 29, 1929 1,948,850 Ehrle Feb. 27, 1934 2,003,340 Burrows June 4, 1935 2,288,458 Jeflers June 30, 1942 2,380,943 Chapman Aug. 7, 1945 2,523,970 Roy Sept. 26, 1950 

